Open AccessPreparedness for Threat of Chikungunya in the Pacific
Author(s) -
Adam Roth,
Damian Hoy,
Paul F. Horwood,
Berry Ropa,
T. Hancock,
Laurent Guillaumot,
Keith Rickart,
Pascal Frison,
Boris Pavlin,
Yvan Souarès
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
emerging infectious diseases
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.54
H-Index - 226
eISSN - 1080-6059
pISSN - 1080-6040
DOI - 10.3201/eid2008.130696
Subject(s) - chikungunya , outbreak , preparedness , public health , alphavirus infection , geography , environmental health , medicine , virology , political science , nursing , law
Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) caused significant outbreaks of illness during 2005-2007 in the Indian Ocean region. Chikungunya outbreaks have also occurred in the Pacific region, including in Papua New Guinea in 2012; New Caledonia in April 2013; and Yap State, Federated States of Micronesia, in August 2013. CHIKV is a threat in the Pacific, and the risk for further spread is high, given several similarities between the Pacific and Indian Ocean chikungunya outbreaks. Island health care systems have difficulties coping with high caseloads, which highlights the need for early multidisciplinary preparedness. The Pacific Public Health Surveillance Network has developed several strategies focusing on surveillance, case management, vector control, laboratory confirmation, and communication. The management of this CHIKV threat will likely have broad implications for global public health.